Acetaldehyde utilization by Leuconostoc species.

Single-strain cultures of Leuconostoc dextranicum and L. mesenteroides were found to be capable of utilizing acetaldehyde in both acidified and nonacidified milk cultures at 21 and 30 C. L. dextranicum utilized acetaldehyde more rapidly than L. mesenteroides when the pH of the medium was near that of normal ripened lactic dairy cultures. Acetaldehyde production and utilization varied widely among different two-strain cultures of lactic streptococci and leuconostocs. The concentration of acetaldehyde in ripened single-strain lactic streptococcal cultures was lowered by adding a large inoculum of ripened L. citrovorum culture and continuing incubation at 21 or 5 C.